posted 5/13/2012 7:13:01 PM I was recently at an estate sale and purchased a German flag signed by 24 American soldiers. The family only knew it belonged to their Grandfather Richard S Johnson of Grand Island, NE. 19 of the 24 names are listed with 714th Tank Battalion and primarily headquarters.

In reviewing the pictures on the 714 there is an image of a group of soldiers holding a German flag. One of the soldiers has the rank of T5 and one signature is T/5 Richard J Gray of Hubbard Ohio. The names include:Harold E NunnDouglas E BerlinLewis F WalshSidney ZislinGeorge CunninghamBob JohnsonPatsey NataleFrank Grill E P ClowerM PetroneJos. VenturaG SmithAnthony CrittelaGilbert De EstradaFurman L BlakleyJames H BarnesMichael HadidonBen BassLyle G OwenVincent Roco IngentoWalter C Crane JrRichard J GrayM. (Red) Troha

If anyone has information on the flag or if it is the group from the picture I would like to preserve the history.

ThanksCharlie

MikeWoldenbergJunior MemberMember # 16

Posts: 918From: University at Buffalo (NY)Registered: 6/1/2004

posted 5/14/2012 6:09:10 AM Dear Charlie,WHAT A FIND! I will follow this up, as there might be a copy of thispicture in the archives of the Museum.

In the meantime, I KNEW Doug Berlin, who recently passed away.

I will make inquiries and tell you what Ifind out.

Mike Woldenberg

GuestUnregistered

posted 5/14/2012 6:11:15 AM I will post your message in the June issue of the Hellcat News, our monthly Association newspaper.

Marie Klinedinst / 714th Unit Rep

CharlieJunior MemberMember # 9018

Posts: 3From: NebraskaRegistered: 5/13/2012

posted 5/15/2012 2:09:19 PM Thank you for the assistance

HajdhJunior MemberMember # 9035

Posts: 3From: AbileneRegistered: 5/16/2012

posted 5/16/2012 4:29:22 PM Charlie, Could you send measurement of flag.Signatures on front or back?Can you email picture to my email address?Will see what I can locate at the Museum.Have many pictures with nothing written on them so takes digging for them sometime.Hope you make it to Reunion in August. Harry

MikeWoldenbergJunior MemberMember # 16

Posts: 918From: University at Buffalo (NY)Registered: 6/1/2004

posted 5/17/2012 5:45:17 AM Harry, I attended a reunion in Abilene andsaw a picture of a German flag, with signatures, or I saw the actual flag. Thiscould have been in 2001.

Mike Woldenberg

harryJunior MemberMember # 9065

Posts: 16From: AbileneRegistered: 5/19/2012

posted 5/19/2012 6:14:35 PM Charlie, Think I located the picture. It is in Doug Berlin's collection. I will look for it Tuesday. I saw a small photocopy. hE PASSED AWAY SO THERE MAY HAVE been an estate sale. Picture taken in Strausbourg, France in Feb 1945. Of "B" Company 714th.

MikeWoldenbergJunior MemberMember # 16

Posts: 918From: University at Buffalo (NY)Registered: 6/1/2004

posted 5/20/2012 9:46:47 PM Yes, I also think the picture belonged to Doug Berlin, among others. However, that does not mean that he once owned the flag itself.

Charlie, do you know whether the estate saleinvolved one of the soldiers you listed? Orhis family?

Mike

GuestUnregistered

posted 5/21/2012 2:33:42 PM My grandfather, Bob Johnson, appears to have signed your flag. He never really talked about his time spent in the War so I have been trying to piece things together. I would love to see that picture.Thanks,Ryan Johnson

MikeWoldenbergJunior MemberMember # 16

Posts: 918From: University at Buffalo (NY)Registered: 6/1/2004

posted 5/21/2012 5:10:27 PM Ryan, I found a low resolution picture of the flag that I received from Doug Berlin in 2001. It was on my computer!

That was 11 yearsago and I simply forgot that I have it. You can see thereis writing on the flag, but you can not decipher the names.I have seen this flag or a good copy of the picturewhen I visited Abilene and the Museum in 2001 or a few years ago at two other reunions.

I can send you this picture, but you need to send me youremail address. I also can send a picture from the Museum website of the tank called St. Louis Blues, March 24,1945, in Speyer, Germany. Doug Berlin is on that picture.

Mike

Mike Woldenberg

harryJunior MemberMember # 9065

Posts: 16From: AbileneRegistered: 5/19/2012

posted 5/21/2012 10:15:26 PM Doug Berlin said he would take the flag to Reunion that was held in McLean.

MikeWoldenbergJunior MemberMember # 16

Posts: 918From: University at Buffalo (NY)Registered: 6/1/2004

posted 5/22/2012 5:52:58 AM This brings up a question: Did Doug Berlin once have the flag and then did he give it to Richard S. Johnson?

Did he borrow the flag from his friend to bring to the reunion where I saw it?

Could there even have been two flags with possibly different autographs? (Unlikely).

(I know I saw the flag or a good picture, and it may not have been in Abilene. I only missed one reunion since 2001. The picture of the flag that I sent to you was labeled in my computer as sent on New Years Day,2001, before I went to my first reunion).

Mike

GuestUnregistered

posted 5/22/2012 8:43:15 AM

Originally posted by MikeWoldenberg:Ryan, I found a low resolution picture of the flag that I received from Doug Berlin in 2001. It was on my computer!

That was 11 yearsago and I simply forgot that I have it. You can see thereis writing on the flag, but you can not decipher the names.I have seen this flag or a good copy of the picturewhen I visited Abilene and the Museum in 2001 or a few years ago at two other reunions.

I can send you this picture, but you need to send me youremail address. I also can send a picture from the Museum website of the tank called St. Louis Blues, March 24,1945, in Speyer, Germany. Doug Berlin is on that picture.

Mike

Mike Woldenberg

Mike,My email is captaindawg2001@yahoo.comAlso, can you tell me what company Thomas A Poole was in. He was my grandfather's best friend and was killed at Herrlisheim. My father is named after him. I would love to watch some of the oral history videos from the guys that were in his company to get a little more insight on his death.Thanks,Ryan Johnson

CharlieJunior MemberMember # 9018

Posts: 3From: NebraskaRegistered: 5/13/2012

posted 5/22/2012 12:29:54 PM Thanks for the research on this flag. To answer some questions.

I purchased the flag at the estate sale for the son of Richard S Johnson. On the flag is the signature of Cpl Richard S Johnson Grand Island, Nebr.

The grandson did not have any history of his grandfathers military experience.

The flag can be seen by copying this link:http://yorkadoptapet.com/714-1.jpg

harry dhansJunior MemberMember # 9107

Posts: 301From: Abilene,TXRegistered: 5/24/2012

posted 5/30/2012 7:28:30 PM Facebook has a 12th armored site also. I have posted a picture with Bob Johnson and Tom Poole on it. It is under my name.

GuestUnregistered

posted 5/31/2012 2:55:09 PM

Originally posted by Charlie:Thanks for the research on this flag. To answer some questions.

I purchased the flag at the estate sale for the son of Richard S Johnson. On the flag is the signature of Cpl Richard S Johnson Grand Island, Nebr.

The grandson did not have any history of his grandfathers military experience.

The flag can be seen by copying this link:http://yorkadoptapet.com/714-1.jpg

Charlie,I would love to know what you plan to do with the flag.

GuestUnregistered

posted 5/31/2012 2:57:52 PM

Originally posted by harry dhans:Facebook has a 12th armored site also. I have posted a picture with Bob Johnson and Tom Poole on it. It is under my name.

Harry,It was probably me that you posted that picture for. I have the same picture. I would love to know anything you could tell me about my grandfather Bob Johnson and his time with the 714th.

KalberJunior MemberMember # 17536

Posts: 3From: Effingham, IllinoisRegistered: 11/13/2013

posted 11/13/2013 9:12:47 PM Hello there!! My grandfather was George L. Kalber. He served with the 714th. I was recently going through his pictures and came across one of a gentleman holding a Nazi flag, I wonder if this could be said flag. If so....how amazing! I would love to pass the photo on to whom ever is interested. My email address is cka1ber@gmail.com.

GuestUnregistered

posted 10/7/2015 7:57:49 PM Hello,

My name is Kyle Cunningham. My grandfather was George E. Cunningham and he served with the 714th tank battalion in France and Germany. He never really talked about his wartime experience, but my family recently found a short list of dates and locations where he was during the war.

Hearing about this flag really intrigues me. Could someone please email me a copy of the photo if they have it. My email is kyle.cunningham1776@gmail.com